Folding davenport or bed



May 17, 1932. W DUVALL 1,858,542

` FOLDING DAVENFORT 0R BED Filed DSC. 19, 1929 @Men/bof Patented Mayv 17, 1932 WILLIAM. J. DUVALL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR T'O SMITHv & DAVIS MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORIORATION 0F MISSOURI FOLDING DAVENPORT OR BED Application :filed December 19, 1929. Serial No. 415,194.

This invention pertains to folding davenport beds, and more particularly to the type ofbed disclosed in applicants co-pending application, Serial No. 295,502, filed July 26,

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a folding davenport bed of the type disclosed which will be simple and easy to operate and which will have a smooth and uniform action. c

Another object of thisl invention is to provide a bed of this type which is of simple and durable construction.

It has been found in the operation of a bed of this type that there are tendencies for the mechanism to bind in certain positions so as to render the operation thereof, uncertain. I

Another object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an improved construction which will avoid such binding and insure a smooth action.

Further objects will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which z- Figure 1 is an end view of themechanism of a bed embodying this invention shown in collapsed position and with one of the end supports removed so as to expose the mechanism. K

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the bed in partly extended position.

Figure 8 is a similar View showing the bed in a fully extended position; and v Figure 4 is a detailed plan view of part of Figure 2.

Referring` now to thedrawings, l designates an end support of anyV suitable type. There is, of course, such a support at each end of the bed. The mechanism about to be described is provided in duplicate, one set,

its other end at 6 to the top section 7 of the bed which carries a spring mattress 8 of any suitable type. A second lever 9 is pivoted at 10 on the plate 3 and is similarly pivoted at its other end at 11 to the rear of the top section 7. The two levers 5 and 9 are of substantially the same length between pivots and serve to carry the topv section 7 during its lnovement from collapsed to extended posi- 4 tion and vice versa. Thelever 5 is pro'- vlded withan upper bend at 12 so as to clear the front board 13 of the davenport when in extended position shown in Figure 13.

Pivoted at 14to the lever 5 is a bottom section 15 which also carries a suitable spring mattress 16. The bottom section 15 haspivoted thereto at V17 a strut 18 whose lower end is secured to a pivot 19 slidable in a slot 20 in the bracket2. The pivot 19 also has connected thereto the head 21 of a rod 22 which carries a compression spring 23 bearing at one end against the head`21 and at its other end against a stop 24 on the rail 2. This spring operatesv to assist in moving the strut 18 toits upright position .as shown in Figure 3.

The pivot 19 is also engaged by a bent link 25 which passes upwardly from said pivot through a slot 26 vin the upper fiange of the rail 2, and is pivoted at its other end at27 to the end 0f thelever 9.V The link 25 connects the lever 9 with the lower end of the strut 18 so that when the top section is swung to extended position the lever,l 9 will cause the link 25 to move the strut 18 to upright position. A tension spring 28 is connected at one end to the link 25 .and at the other to a clip 29 on the plate 3.V The spring 28 applies a tension to the link 25 tending toresist the movement for raising the strut 18 to upright position.

It Win be noted that during theupwsrd tially in alignment with the link 25. During the initial stages of the extending movement just described, the link 25 pushes the strut 18 rearwardly, and itself moves substantially into alignment therewith, accordingly there will be little, if any, tendency toward upward' movement of the part of the strut 18. In order to initiate such upward movement the section 15 is provided with a 'projection 30 extending outwardly therefrom over the rail 2. The rail 2 is provided at its rearend with an upstanding iin 31 having an inclined forward edge 32. As the rearward movement progresses the projection engages the edge 32 which serves as a cam to initiate the upward movement of the strut 18. Such movement throws said strut out of alignment with the link 25 so that the rearward thrust of said link will operate to elevate the rear end of the strut 18,

The operation of this device is as follows: In the collapsed position shown in Figure 1, the strut 18 and th-e link 25 take the positions already described. The lever 9 rests upon a. stop 33 on the link 25 so as to support the rear edge of the top section 7. The forward edge of said section is provided with a Contact strip .34 adapted-to rest upon the front board 13 to be supported thereby. In this position of the mechanism the spring 23 is compressed while the spring 28 is relaxed.

In order to move the bed to extended position the operator simply lifts the front edge of the tcp section 7 and swings the same forward to extended Vposition, During this movement the levers 5 and 9 carry the top section in horizontal position from its collapsed position above the bottom section to extended position beside said bottom section as illustrated in Figure 3. In order to insure mutual cooperation of the mechanisms at both ends of the bed cach lever 5 has secured thereto a bracket and a torsion rod 36 eX- tends lengthwise of the bed and is fixed at its ends to the brackets 35. As the lever 9 swings forwardly on the pivot 10 its lower end forces the link 25 rearwardly and this action forces the strut 19 rearwardly. This movement is I assisted by the spring 23.

The bottom section 15 is moved to the rear until the projection 30 engages the edge 32 which starts the bottom section upwardly at its end. This also throws the strut 18 out i of alignment with the link 215 which by sliding the pivot 19 along the slot 2O forces the strut 18 to upright position. This movement extends the spring 28 which thereby increases tension so thatthe final movement of the top section as it is lowered to extended position is resisted by the tension of this spring. The forward part of the top section may be provided with a foot 37 pivoted at 38 to a plate 39 secured to thetop section. y The upper end of the foot 37 is pivoted at 40 to a link 41 whose other end is pivoted at 42 to the lever 5. During the forward movement of the top section the link 41 swings the foot 37' from a horizontal position as shown in Figure 1 to a vertical position as shown in Figure 3 so as .to support the top section in extended position. In this position the lever 9 rests at its pivot 11 upon the lever 5 so as to support the rear` end of the top section as is shown in AFigure. 3.

It will be seen, therefore, that this invention provides a simple and etlicient mechanism for afolding davenport bed of this type. The mechanism is simple and cheap to manufacture. The movements are such that `no binding of the parts occursV even though the strut 18 and the link 25 are substantially in a locking position relatively to one another at the beginning of the extending movement. The toggle action which is liable to take place at this point is effectively broken by the cam 32. The spring 23 is compressed when the bed is collapsed so that it operates to cushion the closing movement and to assist in starting the opening movement. The spring 28 on the other' hand is tensioned in the extended position so that it assists in balancing the weight of the top section in extended position and,v assists in lifting that section at the start of the closing movement. The springs 23 and 28 are so placed and connected that comparatively light springs can be used. g

It is obvious that various changes may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, in thev details of construction without departing from the spirit of this invention; it is to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited tothe specific details shown and/or described. v. Having thus described theinvention, what is claimed is:

1. A folding davenport bed, comprising, end supports, a top section, a bottom section,

levers pivoted to each support and connected with said top section to move said top section to positions beside and above said bottom section, means connecting the front portion of said bottom section with one o f said levers to raise saidbottom sectionrwhen said top section is moved to extended position, a strut pivoted at one end to the rear portion of said bottom section and having sliding engagement at its other end with an end support, means connecting said sliding end with one of said levers in order to move said strut to raise said bottom section, a spring bearing on the end of said last lever to assist in raising said top section from extended position,' and a spring bearing on the sliding endr of said strut to assist in raising the same.

. 2. A folding davenport bed, comprising, end supports, a top section, a bottom section, levers pivoted to each support and connected with said top section to move said top section to positions beside and above said bottom section, means connecting the front portion of said bottom section with one of said levers to raise said bottom section when said top section is moved to extended position, a strut pivoted at one end to the rear portion of said bottom section and having sliding engagement at its other end with an end support, a link connecting one of said levers with the sliding end of said strut in order to move the latter to raise said bottom section, and means adapted upon movement of said levers to be engaged by said bottom` section to start the same to raised position.

3. A folding davenport bed, comprising, end supports, a top section, a bottom section, levers pivoted to each support and connected with said top section to move said top section to positions beside and above said bottom section, means connecting the front portion of said bottom section with one of said levers to raise said bottom section when said top section is moved to extended position, a strut pivoted at one end to the rear portion of said bottom section and having sliding engagement at its other end with an end support, a link connecting one of said levers with the sliding end ot said strut in order to move the latter to raise said bottom section, and means acting upon movement of said levers to start the upward movement of said strut.

4L. In a folding davenport bed having a support, a top section, a bottom section, and mechanism operative to move said top section to positions beside and above said bottom section at the same time raising and lowering said bottom section including a horizontally movable link, said mechanism including a strut having one endmovably engaging said support, said strut being connected at said movable end to said link for movement thereby to upright and reclining positions to raise and lower said bottom section, and means for initiating the upward movement of said strut.

5. In a folding davenport bed having a support, a top section, a bottom section, and mechanism operative to move said top section to positions beside and above said bottom section at the same time raising and lowering said bottom section including a horizontally movable link, said mechanism including a strut having one end movably engaging said support, said strut being connected at said movable end to said link for movement thereby to upright and reclining positions to raise and lower said bottom section, said link positioned substantially in alignment with the strut in reclining position, and means acting upon movement of said link to initiate the upward movement of said strut.

6. In a folding davenport bed having a support, a top section, a bottom section, and

tion at the same time raising and lowering said bottom section including a horizontally movable link, said mechanism including a strut having one end movably engaging said support, said strut being connected at said movable end to said link for movement thereby to uprightand reclining positions to raise and lower said bottom section, a spring bearing on said -strut to raise the same, and a vspring bearing on said link in opposition to said iirst spring.

7. In a folding davenport bed having a support, a top section, a bottom section, and mechanism operative to move said top section to positions beside and above said bottom section at the same time raising and lowering said bottom section including a horizontally movable link, said mechanism including a strut having one end movably engaging said support, said strut being connected at said movable end to said link for movement thereby to upright and reclining positions to raise and lower said bottom section, and mutually opposed springs acting on the lower end of said strut.

8. In a folding davenport bed having a support, a top section, a bottom section, and mechanism operative to move said top section to positions beside and above said bottom section at the same time raising and lowering said bottom section including a horizontally movable link, said mechanism including a strut having one end movably engaging said support, said strut being connected at said movable end to said link for movement thereby to upright and reclining positions to raise and lower said bottom section, and means acting upon endwise movement of said link to move said strut out of alignment with said link.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature this 1st day of November, 1929.

WILLIAM J. DUVALL.

mechanism operative to move said top section to positions beside and above said bottom sec- 

